the landscape of kyiv's queer community, particularly during the late soviet and post-soviet eras, provides a fascinating glimpse into a subculture that thrived in the shadows.
this exploration delves into the evolution of gay spaces, the development of unique cultural markers, and the impact of both soviet policies and the emergence of a market economy. the narrative is pieced together from firsthand accounts, offering a rich understanding of the lives and experiences of individuals navigating a changing society.
the rise of gay spaces: from underground clubs to public gathering places
the genesis of organized gay life in kyiv can be traced through a series of clubs and venues.
initially, these spaces existed outside of official sanctioning. key locations like "matroska tyshyna" marked early developments, followed by venues like "tyshyna" in the 1990s, and eventually the establishment of "kletka" (meaning "cage"). initially, "kletka" didn't exist as "androgynе," but operated under the name "rostok," housed within the "rostok house of culture."
this eventually transitioned to "androgynе," which became a prominent hub.
a nearby café, "the stray dog," also played a significant role. as one interviewee recalls, "at the beginning of the '90s, there were more gay places like this than there are now." this proliferation of spaces reveals the growing visibility, albeit still largely clandestine, of the queer community in kyiv.
the introduction of a market economy proved instrumental in shaping this landscape.
entrepreneurs, recognizing the potential for profit, began leasing venues to lgbtq+ communities. this shift from a state-controlled environment to one driven by market forces allowed these communities to establish their own spaces and generate income. this was a marked contrast to the prior era when homosexuality was criminalized, creating severe limitations for social gatherings.
an interviewee, quoted in the study, recalled the club "rostok." although entry was free, the cost of drinks was notably high.
"i remember when the rostok was still just a club... and i was a poor student, and entrance to the club was free." the convenience of a 24-hour kiosk nearby, selling gin and tonics, provided further support for late-night gatherings.
understanding the dynamics of community: visibility, autonomy, and subcultural identity
the experiences of gay men were often more visible than those of lesbians within the patriarchal soviet and post-soviet society.
information pertaining to lesbian history in kyiv remains scarce.
it's probable that there was an overlap in the spaces and cultural practices within the gay and lesbian communities in kyiv, they largely operated separately.
'i have friends from the '90s who are also from there,' the interviewee states, 'they also listened to our records, talked to us, and wanted to meet people like them, extraordinary people.' the venues served a function as spaces to forge homosexual subculture in kyiv and were open to anyone.
the unique characteristics of kyiv's gay subculture
the kyiv gay community, like many subcultures, developed its own distinct language, slang, and cultural practices.
this helped to differentiate the community and foster a sense of belonging. one interviewee noted the use of feminine-gendered words, a common feature in gay communities within the soviet space, used to signal their membership.
scholarly research, such as that done by t.
krombach, has documented similar practices in other regions, including st. petersburg. the specific words and phrases had coded meanings, adding layers of complexity to the community's language. furthermore, advertising in newspapers and, later, online forums, provided crucial platforms for communication.
the newspaper, "aids-info" (spidinfo) was a significant outlet.
advertisements within the publication, as well as teletext, became common. this newspaper's influence was particularly important in the context of the former soviet union. along with providing information about aids and safe sex, the publication offered a space to connect.
the internet, particularly early forums on the website of the russian singer zemfira, provided new avenues for lesbian culture and connection.
since russian lesbian culture greatly influenced the ukrainian lesbian culture, the online dating space was concentrated in the early runet.
these developments show how periodicals and the internet became vital platforms for the lives of homosexual people in ukraine.
lgbtq+ individuals could connect online and develop networks to promote activism.
as a result, the kyiv homosexual community of men and independently the homosexual community of women had the hallmarks of a subculture with a sense of unity. this was shown through shared spaces, slang, and communication methods.
this occurred along with increasing internet use and growing activism after the soviet era.
cultural expression and identity: music, style, and the desire to be different
the consumption of cultural products held different meanings for each individual, influenced by their upbringing, education, financial standing, and gender.
a significant scarcity of information remains for lesbian subcultures on this topic.
interviewees conveyed a desire to differentiate themselves from wider soviet society through their clothing and style. these expressions are indicative of the social environments where gays and lesbians could freely socialize.
music played a key role in shaping identity.
one interviewee frequently referenced different musical subcultures, particularly their favorites. the drummer of the russian rock band kino, for instance, became a prominent figure. the interviewee states, "at least no one went out and waved it like a flag."
the interviewee mentioned the film about tsoi, "the end of the holidays," and the effect the film had on society at that time.
he also discussed his affinity for western music, particularly the beatles, noting that it was a significant part of his personal soundtrack.
clubs became important spaces where diverse musical tastes converged. the interviewee says, "this is the story with pugacheva [alla pugacheva is a russian-soviet singer]...
i also listened to the club edita piekha [soviet singer], stanislavovna." the interviewee details events that took place at the opening of the gay club andybar, and recounts the importance the show had in his life.
russian-language countercultural music's prominence, even within subcultural communities, reflects the strong effect of soviet cultural policy.
the policy promoted the dominance of the russian language in all republics of the ussr. this dynamic can be related to the linguistic environment in kyiv.
political views and the impact of soviet influence
the level of political engagement within the kyiv gay community varied.
one interviewee stated that they were primarily focused on self-expression and exploring their sexuality. "we were small," he explains. "were we interested in brezhnev, who was an old man, barely able to speak?"
'well, at least, our community was not so politicized,' the interviewee notes.
there were various connections to political figures, such as roman viktyuk. this era's narrative reflects the gradual shift towards the formation of ngos and activism that emerged after the decriminalization of homosexuality.
this shift encompassed the decrease of the "pleshky" - a term referring to specific gathering places - and the increasing awareness of rights within the community.
personal experiences shaped how people understood these changes.
the interviews provided valuable insight into the lives of non-heterosexual individuals through an autobiographical perspective. even though lesbian subcultures shared spaces with gay subcultures, they developed independently.
due to the patriarchal social structure, lesbian history of this period was less visible.
in addition, some individuals did not align themselves with these specific communities or identities but frequented these spaces for various reasons, for instance, men who have sex with men or women who have sex with women.
these communities exhibited many characteristics of subcultures, which was particularly evident when homosexuality was criminalized, reinforcing their autonomy and subcultural identity.
however, after the decriminalization of homosexuality, these communities gradually lost some of their subcultural traits and began to assert their rights more openly within society.
in the latter case, interpretations varied depending on the personal life experiences of each individual within the homosexual subcultures.